BMW E46 Water Pumps

When maintained, your BMW's cooling system should be bulletproof. The weakest link on any BMW model is likely to be the water pump, thermostat, or electrical parts on the newer models. BMW water pumps have gone through many design and material changes over the years in an effort to make the cooling system more efficient and reduce parasitic drag on the engine. The water pumps we sell are the latest and best designs that BMW and OEM suppliers can produce. Whenever possible we prefer to sell a water pump with a composite impeller, not metal. The latest BMW designs use a composite impeller that is far lighter than metal and much stronger than plastic. Metal impeller pumps are typically heavier and may have bearing problems that lead to premature leaks. Plastic pumps were infamous in the mid-1990s for disintegrating. The composite impellers have proven themselves for over a decade as a trouble-free and efficient design and many of the OEM suppliers are also introducing updated composite designs for older models too.

This is the stock water pump pulley that mounts between the engine fan and the water pump. We have seen these plastic or composite pulleys crack around the mounting bolt holes. If left un-noticed the whole pulley can fall apart which will immediately disable the car and possibly leave you stranded. It can also break while performing other work around it such as removing the fan, replacing the water pump, or even just replacing the belt. Replacing this pulley while doing the water pump can be a good preventative measure.

Most of the pulleys on your BMW engine are plastic, which become brittle and frail over time and from engine bay heat. A failed pulley could leave you stranded which is why it is vital to inspect the pulleys during routine maintenance. This is an aluminum version of the stock water pump pulley used on the M50/M52/M52TU/M54 engine in the E36, E46, Z3, Z4, and other models. It's uses the same hardware and the original belt as the stock plastic pulley. But the aluminum will last much longer.

Most of the pulleys on your BMW engine are plastic, which become brittle and frail over time and from engine bay heat. A failed pulley could leave you stranded which is why it is vital to inspect the pulleys during routine maintenance. This is an aluminum version of the stock water pump pulley used on the S54 engine in the E46 M3, MZ3, and Z4M. It's the same size and uses the same hardware and the original belt as the stock plastic pulley. But the aluminum will last much longer.

This high performance water pump is a direct replacement pump designed to fit a wide range of BMW engines with no modifications. That includes accepting the Factory Fan Clutch. The front of the BMW High Performance Water Pump is stock appearing giving it that classic BMW look while the back is all business. Features up to 20% increase of water flow over stock pump, and it TWICE as efficient as factory pump, much less parasitic drag than other pumps, stainless steel impeller, heavy duty bearing, high quality water seal. Manufactured by EMP / Stewart Components. THIS PUMP COMES WITH A LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

Most of the pulleys on your BMW engine are plastic, which becomes brittle and frail over time and from engine bay heat. A failed pulley could leave you stranded which is why it is vital to inspect the pulleys during routine maintenance. This is an aluminum version of the stock water pump pulley used on the S54 engine in the E46 M3, MZ3, and Z4M. It's the same size and uses the same hardware and the original belt as the stock plastic pulley. But the aluminum will last much longer.

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This Original BMW water pump is the latest updated design with a composite impeller. The composite material (similar to Kevlar) is much stronger than the problematic plastic impeller from past water pumps. And it's lighter than the aftermarket metal impellers so that means less strain on the bearing. For an OE/OEM replacement, we have found that this is the highest quality and longest lasting waterpump available.

When doing any sort of repair or maintenance there is no replacement for genuine factory parts. Turner Motorsport carries the Genuine BMW brand with pride and has the parts you need to complete your next project with confidence.

The early M50/M52 engines had a serious weak point: the water pump. BMW originally used a plastic impeller in the waterpump. This would degrade over time and eventually break apart. Your car overheats immediately. This water pump is an updated one with a metal impeller. BMW has since released a water pump with a composte impeller that does not have the same issues and is just as reliable as the metal impeller version. But for piece of mind, the metal impeller is tough to beat.

Geba builds all of their pumps to exceed factory specifications by using a metal impeller. This offers a huge improvement over stock and a massive increase in reliability. Servicing all major European models, Geba has you covered when it comes time for a new water pump.

The E46 M3 does not suffer from the cooling nightmares of the previous E36 models. The original water pump uses a composite impeller, not plastic or metal, so the BMW pump will typically last 85,000+ miles before the bearings show signs of wear (the composite impeller is not the reason for preventative maintenance - it's the bearings). We prefer the OE BMW pump to the aftermarket brands because it uses the composite impeller, it has a proven reliability record, and the pricing represents a solid value upgrade. The pump is located on the front of the engine with the fan attached to it. The complexity of the S54 engine means the water pump has multiple gaskets and seals that should also be replaced. And if the thermostat has not been changed then this is the best time for a new one as well.

Optional Gaskets The S54 water pump has multiple gaskets and O-rings that should be replaced at the same time. The water pump does not come from BMW with a profile gasket anyway and all of the hoses and thermostat housing have their own seals. We don't recommend re-using the original gaskets so we have an add-on kit that will have you covered during your water pump replacement - 1 x 11531318402, thermostat housing gasket to water pump housing 1 x 11537830709, coolant return pipe on thermostat housing 1 x 11517831099, water pump profile gasket 2 x 11537830712, coolant hose rubber O-rings

Composite vs Metal BMW designed this water pump to use a composite impeller. It is much stronger than the plastic pieces that were so problematic in the mid-90s. The aftermarket solution to the plastic issues was to use a metal impeller. This solved the impeller issues but created some others. The metal impeller is heavier than composite or plastic and that led to quicker bearing failure on the E36 pump (sometimes within a year). The possibility exists that the same premature bearing failure can happen on the E46 M3 metal impeller pumps as well. The heavier weight also has the drawback of using more horsepower since it requires more effort to move the heavier piece. The composite materials solve all of these issues - light weight, strong, long lasting, and relatively inexpensive. They also come with a two-year warranty (most aftermarket pumps are one year). Original BMW water pumps for the E36 (and most other modern BMWs) now use a composite impeller so any issues with factory pumps are long gone. Original BMW water pumps for the E46 M3 are known to last over 100,000 miles and the composite is still in excellent condition (failure is usually typical leaks from worn bearings). For preventative maintenance we recommend a replacement around 85,000 miles. Alternate part numbers: 11517838118, 11517838159.

This is a compete cooling system overhaul kit, which includes all the common E46 cooling system failure parts bundled into a complete package. This cooling system package is for all of the non-M E46 3 series -- those made in 1999-2005 as well as 2006 coupes and convertibles.

The E46 cooling system is much like that of the previous generation 3 series. Several of the primary cooling components are prone to failure within 60k miles (or less in many cases). A failure in the cooling system can lead to overheating and catastrophic engine failure. Don't gamble your engine! By replacing these core items preventatively, such as the radiator & waterpump, you are defusing what could be a ticking cooling system time bomb. And if you've had a failure of one of these parts, now is the time to refresh your cooling system. Our kit includes one OEM Behr radiator, an Original BMW water pump (with updated composite impeller), thermostat (complete with housing), radiator cap, and new hoses (as pictured).